Clipless all the time. I'm afraid if I ever try to ride with normal shoes and no clips/straps, I'll one day try to pull up on the pedals on climb, find that my feet aren't attached, and, well, pull a "slvoid maneuver".

60 miles a day isn't too crazy. If it were 60 miles each way, that would crazy. Although in all fairness I did a 30 mile ride before my commute today, which is only 3-5 miles route depending, and my ass feels like it's going to fall off. It was windy though and I'm riding an aluminum mtn bike with knobbies.

Just so you know it would still be 50 miles if he actually meant kilometers.

Oh yeah, I ride platforms, but it's not by choice.

I'm really tying to get used to clipless (SPD) for the commute (16 miles each way), but I find I have a hell of a time getting clipped back in at an intersection when the lights change. This make for some very awkward starts, especially on hills. It is even more problematic since I started commuting on my new single speed. My shoes are PI mountain shoes with Shimano M505 SPDs. Is there maybe a better pedal\shoe combo?

Clipless. I've been wearing my Shimano SPD sandals at work most days this Antipodean summer.

It's just practice. And also realizing that not clipping in right away isn't the end of the world. Unless the hill is so steep that you can't move without pulling up on the upstroke (in which case getting clipped in can be very tricky), just pedal as you would with platform pedals, and then you can try again each time your unclipped foot is approaching the downstroke. Even with lots of practice, you'll occasionally miss. Just don't panic.

I've read that crank bros eggbeaters and look 4x4s (same pedal) are very easy to clip in and out of. Is this true?

Yes 60 miles, it's exactly 48km door to door. No big deal once you get used to it.

Toe clips+Converse All Stars-Then I change into steel toed boots at work. I own some Eggbeaters and Specialized shoes that I love, but I only put them on the bike for long distances or tours, they're too much of a hassle for stop-n-go traffic and actually walking around otherwise.

Old fashioned platforms all the time. Only 7 miles r/t commute but I lay on 80 - 120/week otherwise.
Footwear: Any decent quality all-terrain low-top hiker in good weather.
Bad weather: Waterproof light weight hiking boot, insulated.

I use toe clips also with sneakers with the straps kept loose. They are easy to get into and exit while still providing some control.

I switched to clipless last fall. It's OK, but I don't really care much one way or the other. I don't think I ride any differently with them than not. I can't get used to pulling backwards on the pedals while cranking, and the other three directions I can do with toeclips. My speed hasn't improved, and I don't feel any more or less safe or stable either way. Honestly I don't really see what all the fuss is about.

Even when I wore sneakers and toeclips, I wore a separate pair, since my ride is quite dusty (or muddy if wet) and the shoes had to be changed anyway. The Shimano mountain shoes I'm using are nice because they're warmer than sneakers in the winter.

In the spring I'll probably put the platforms & toeclips back on, just because it's nicer just to walk out to the bike and go than to have to suit up. I find having to put on special shoes to be kind of a PITA. I'll still have separate shoes for the commute, but for buzzing around the neighborhood it's nice to be able to just jump on and go rather than to go inside and put on different shoes first. Gloves and helmet, jump on and go.

Toe clips with gore-tex running shoes, here. I keep one foot clipped tight and the other a little loose for intersections.

Clipless all the way, except when I am out on a neighborhood ride with the kids.

I just got those pedals too. I haven't even put them on the bike yet. My commute is so short that I'll continue to use the platform side with my tennis shoes for that, but I sometimes take longer rides at lunch and on weekends. I also am planning to do Cycle NC later this year. The new Shimano sandals I just ordered will fill those needs. As for my commute to work, I wear my tennis shoes and change into my work shoes at work (I keep them in my locker).

Clipless .... Shimano PD-M324

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Pedal/Shimano_PD-M324.jpg



Arkel BUG (backpack/pannier)

http://www.velotique.com/images/arkel-bug1.jpg

Toe clips and tennis shoes. Steel toes at work.

I am currently using sneakers and platforms. At work I change into dress shoes.

Since I received my year end bonus this week I will be ordering my eggbeaters shortly. Then I need to visit my LBS to pick out a pair of mountain shoes.

I use dress shoes and platforms. My reasons are convenience and lack of perceived need. I do see some people commuting with them. It is an individual thing.

Paul

Me too.

I use Shimano M520 clipless which are double sided without a platform. I find them as easy to use a flat pedals. I find myself clipping in so easily that sometimes I do when I wasn't planning on it.

I test rode a bike with the M324 and found them much harder to clip in than the M520 since the are not double sided and the plaform doesn't give a point target or perhaps the platform prevents the cleat from being guided in if you are not properly aligned. I'm just mentioning this the M324s may look easier to enable a transition to clipless, they actually may make it harder.

Al

Clipless here. Love 'em and wish I'd adopted them sooner. Because I sit in front of a computer most of the day, I just where my SPD equipped mountain style shimanos unless I have to dress up for something. On those days, I bring different shoes.

Platform pedals here.

Clipless; I store a black and a brown pair of shoes at work.

Clipless. Once you get accustomed to pulling as well as pushing it gets hard to go back. Why let a whole muscle group go to waste?

It does take a while (and one fall) to get used to them, though. Just put the bike on a trainer and you have all the risk free practice you could want. I find them particulalry useful on hills. Riding platforms now makes me very uncomfortable, like riding in a car without a seatbelt.

Clipless 4 teh win!! I keep dress shoes at work, along with pants and shirts.